dineomatic's Profile
What's Chow-ish in Palm Springs?
Second the mac/cheese/lobster richness there although a month or so back felt there wasn't as many pieces of lobster!
Best fried chicken in LA? where is it?
Don't remember if Larkin's only served white meat once but their chicken now comes with breast, drumsticks and thighs
Best BBQ in Texas
Been going to Austin twice a year for the last two decades. The best brisket I ever had was cooked for a party by a former staffer on The Austin Chronicle. According to him, even though he tried several times thereafter, he could never again come close.
The "new" Kreuz's in Lockhart is my favorite for driving distance and it's overall consistency BUT ONLY if you can manage to get there between say 11 and 12:30. Then their famous brisket won't be dried out (I usually get the fat and not the lean). Also recommended: their pork chop, pork ribs and, of course, the sausage. Tried Smitty's once but preferred Kreuz's. I should go back to Louie Mueller's in Taylor or drive past Lockhart to Luling and hit City Market - it's been a while. As for the Salt Lick which has had its ups and downs - the airport location is above average for airport food but not for best bbq.
Best BBQ in Texas
IMO Kreuz's is the most consistent of these mentioned, but ideally you need to get there between 11 and 12:30 PM. After that the meat can be dry.
Best Burgers in Los Angeles
Went to Golden Harvest cafe a few days ago just before the place really filled up. However, we were seated within five minutes and the food came promptly. The bacon cheeseburger and blt avocado sandwich we shared were very good. Their house dipping sauce was also terrific. Beer selection is limited but excellent (I like stouts). Also their menu has other choices besides only burgers. On the downside the place is tiny, a bit uncomfortable and overlit.
Went to the Silverlake Umami Burger tonight. We shared the So Cal and the Umami Burger with fries and onion rings. Liked everything very much except for the semi-slimy mushroom that goes on the Umami (you really can't taste it and the texture is off putting).
I am not a big ketchup fan but their take on it had a great complex flavor.Aioli sauce was also fine. The butter pecan ice cream sandwich we shared was outstanding. Judging from the Thai lager beer that accompanies their burger combo #1, The Golden Harvest Cafe is way ahead of them in that department. otherwise the space is larger and more relaxed than GHC and burgers are maybe a bit tastier. Prices are similar but no waiter service at GHC means you save on a tip. Hmm. It's a toss up.
Have any Chowhound Faves Broken Your Heart
Tend to forget the dining misfires but here are a few minor letdowns after hearing them praised so often:
Yucca - average
Kyochon - dry,hard coating and lots of MSG on both styles of chicken
And for those who remember, the place whose popularity really baffled me was The Authentic Cafe,
Kyochon - Korean fried chicken
Went once and will never return. Their 18 pc friedchicken was loaded with MSG (I'm allergic to it) and was overcooked (dry and the coating hardened). I think Jonathan Gold is way off base on this one. That or the kitchen was having such a really disastrous off day I don't dare try again. Will stick instead with Larkin's Joint version.
Best fried chicken in LA? where is it?
I second Larkin's Joint as having the best fried chicken in L.A. area
PLEASE POST YOUR VOTES HERE: Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants 2009
Over $25 -wish I had $$ to go to the last 3 more.
Pizzeria Mozza (Tuesday's duck confit)
Carlito Gardel (lunch cheeseburger)
Jar
Lou on Vine
Vincenti Ristorante
Under $25 - don't get west of B.H. much.
Langers
La Cabanita (Montrose)
Casa Bianca
Carousel (Hollywood Blvd.)
Portillo's (Buena Park)
Good food in or around Mount Snow, Vermont?
Sure, I'd appreciate it! And thanks to all the other 'hounds who gave suggestions,
Who makes the best pizza in New England?
For what it's worth, I grew up partly in New England but now live in L.A. (where outside of the super Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock and slices at the relatively new Vito's in West Hollywood. we are severely pie challenged - Pizzeria Mozza, although great, serves another animal entirely).
Casserta's traditional pie in Providence has been consistently good over the years and their buttery crust is unique. Boston's Santarpio's is also a favorite and I always get the salsiccia side order. Have always equally liked Pepe's and Sally's Apizza in CT until Pepe's fell off some years back and, in my opinion, improved during the last 5 years - however they can still char the bottom of the crust too much. The Pepe's in Fairfield is similar to the original but standing in line in the rain a year ago I had to agree with another customer who opined "Y'know, I think a lot of us come here more out of loyalty than anything." Didn't like the crust at Modern.
These days when in Westport, CT I pick up my clam pie (or any other) at the embarassingly-named Nauti Dolphin at the Fairfield train station. These may be a notch under the two New Haven giants on Wooster but proximity, consistency and no extended waits won me over.
BTW still like John's in NYC and that tiny pizza place on Avenue J in Brooklyn but haven't had Lombardi's white cheese with Kalamata olives for some years. Did NOT like Otto's in NYC when I tried it a year or so ago.
Good food in or around Mount Snow, Vermont?
Am taking my son up to Mount Snow next month to snowboard. Any recommendations for good food from diners to regular restaurants would be much appreciated!
Non- Mainstream Places in Palm Springs Area
Just back from a long weekend in "The Springs". Two very local Cal-Mex places had been recommended by a well known Texas rock n' roller (I always listen to Texans when they have Mexican restaurant recommendations!). Predictably these turned out to be very good.
The first. Macario's, is in Indio on a fairly barren stretch of Indio Boulevard. My gal friend said it was the best chorizo and eggs she'd ever had. We only went for breakfast but had been told that every meal was outstanding. The second, Armando's is down E. Palm Canyon past Rancho Mirage on El Paseo. We were told to order the Chipotle Nachos which were pretty great. Not super cheap ($8.50 I think) but not really pricey either.
BTW a great local reasonable breakfast joint in Palm Springs is Bit O' Country.
We liked all the upscale dinner/lunch places we tried: Davey's Hideaway, as others have mentioned, doesn't have an adventurous menu but large portions of well prepared classic surf n' turf entrees and extremely friendly service make it a winner. Johannes' food was, as usual, excellent. The spaetzle (sp?) outstanding. This time however, the service was too slow. At Norma's (in the Le Park Meridien Hotel) I had their rich signature mac n' cheese with lobster. The expresso brownie with coffe ice cream was large and a very good finish to such a decadent lunch.
Restaurant Patois or Brigsten's
Would be careful with that duck as described recently in my Five Almost Full Days In New Orleans post. When I had it last Thursday it was sadly very dried out and not at all like the succulent treat I knew from years past. At the very least you should be prepared to send it back. Hopefully I just hit a bad night although it was an early dinner (5:30 PM) so if you do order it I would like to hear how it was!
Five Almost Full Days In New Orleans
Would like to know others' experiences with this dish. Did I just hit an off night or does this happen with any consistency?
Five Almost Full Days In New Orleans
My girlfriend and I just returned from Ponderosa Stomp (in between Jazz Fest weekends). Her first visit and my first since Katrina. Thanks to all who posted before our trip. You made it much better than it would have been without you! Time to give you 'hounds my first post and on our still fresh dining experiences. Lots of the restaurants were noisy, but then it was Jazz Fest. So, in no particular order here's what I can remember - although the girlfriend is sure to say "How could you forget to mention..."
Cafe Du Monde - I'm not a beignet fan like she is but I do like the frozen cafe au lait even though I wish it was a little less sweet (but hey, this is New Orleans).
Acme Oyster House - First place we hit. Really great char-grilled oysters. Lines too long at the times when we wanted to return and try other dishes!
Pirate's Alley Cafe - A raffish bar by Jackson Square that makes an absinthe cocktail. Never had one before but unless you're a fan of pastis from the south of France or just love licorice it's no big deal ('scuse me Baudelaire).
Arnaud's French 75 Bar - Classy bar. Cool and quiet. Wonderful informative bartender who uses herbsaint to mix a very fine sazerac.
Herbsaint - Noisy and crowded. Pork Belly was as rich and good as I'd remembered and we had a fine dark roux duck and sausage gumbo just this side of bitter.
Liuzza's By The Track - Good neighborhood joint with outstanding "special heavenly roast beef" po boy. The bbq shrimp po boy was sort of a letdown. It had an almost bland sauce - no real kick to it. Shrimp were cooked perfectly though.
Galatoire's - Lunch here was a real goof! Great old decor of course (mirrored walls, tile floor, etc.) but very very noisy - lady's birthday party in progress with galfriends in ladybug hats whooping it up and lots of business suits trying to outdo them. Pompano Almondine as good as ever. Shrimp Remoulade - also as before - good but not great. G'friend had Chicken Clemenceau another buttery house specialty made with - canned peas?? Like, way historic, man. Still, as everyone says, it's one of the social epicenters of the town.
Mr Bs - Dinner. Excellent dark andouille gumbo and delicious (and very messy) bbq shrimp (heavy on the Worcestershire). Also crowded and noisy but no wait.
Johnny's Po Boys - Would be lunch. I had Johnnny's special po boy - roast beef, swiss, ham, etc. She had a chicken salad. We dumped 'em in the trash after a few bites. Hers tasted tired mine better but with a nothing dressing so we went to...
Camelia Grill - At end of the (current) St Charles streetcar line. When you want a break from constant nawlins chow. Fab bacon cheeseburgers with grilled onions and great freezes (milk shakes). Glad to see it's up and running again!
Bon Ton Cafe - Their wonderful signature drink - the Rum Ramsey - has yet to be decoded by the tiki detectives. Would love to know how it's done. Crab au gratin is a simple and rich cheesy comfort food. The excellent whiskey bread pudding was almost a drink in itself.
Brigtsen's - Excellent appetizers: a special chevre salad, a southwestern-ish version of shrimp remoulade and great pulled pork on a maque choux griddle cake. HOWEVER, cajun duck with cherry sauce was a major $31 disappointment. It had been the best dish ever when made in years past with pecan sauce. Now, it was simply dried out. Didn't another hound mention this recently? Wish I'd paid attention. Of course I should have sent it right back but just kept stupidly chewing away in disbelief. Oh well...
Bayona - Our favorite. Beautiful place, quiet, courtyard and inside dining. Last meal in town was a fantastic lunch here. Hangar steak with creamy poblano omelette (best omelette we'd ever tasted), intense garlic soup, amazing smoked duck sandwich with pepper jelly, cashew butter and carmelized red onions (which wiped out the Brigtsen duck fiasco). Dessert was a delicious decadent dark chocolate banana torte with expresso.
Okay, thanks for listening and hope this helps anyone making the trip to NOLA.
